The Japanese Prime Minister, Ryutaro Hashimoto, has said Asian countries should act together in order to send what he called a proper message to the international markets.

He was speaking after talks in Tokyo with the President of the Philippines, Fidel Ramos.

Mr Hashimoto and President Ramos agreed that restoring economic stability in South East Asia and Japan was one of the main problems facing the summit of Asian and Pacific leaders to be held in Vancouver in Canada later this month.